You cannot change the address itself, but you can create a new Gmail account and transfer your data

Google does not allow you to edit the username part of your Gmail address once the account exists. If your current address is jane.smith@gmail.com, you cannot change it to jane.jones@gmail.com on the same account. What you can do instead is create a new Gmail account with the address you want, move your emails and contacts to it, and then tell people to use the new address going forward.

The process takes about an hour of active work spread over a few days, because Gmail needs time to sync data between accounts. You will need access to both your current Gmail password and a recovery email address or phone number linked to your account.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail addresses cannot be edited after creation, so you must create a new account with the address you want instead.
  • You can forward all incoming mail from your old address to your new one, so you do not miss messages while people transition.
  • Gmail can export your emails and contacts so you can import them into the new account, keeping your message history intact.
  • The transfer process works best if you do it over two to three days rather than all at once, giving Gmail time to sync between accounts.

Create your new Gmail account with the address you want

Go to accounts.google.com and click "Create account". Choose "For myself" when prompted. Enter your first and last name, then type the new email address you want in the "Gmail address" field. Gmail will tell you when ready if that address is already taken. If it is, try variations like adding numbers or a middle initial.

Complete the rest of the signup form: create a strong password, add a recovery email address (this should be a different email you control, not another Gmail), and add a phone number if you want to. Google uses these to help you regain access if you forget your password. Finish the signup and let Gmail send you a confirmation email to your recovery address.

Do not start using this new account for regular mail yet. You will set up forwarding from your old account first, so everything lands in one place while you transition.

Set up forwarding from your old Gmail to your new one

Sign into your old Gmail account. Click the gear icon in the top right corner and select "See all settings". Go to the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab. Click "Add a forwarding address" and enter your new Gmail address. Gmail will send a confirmation email to that new address — sign into the new account, find the confirmation email from your old account, and click the link inside it.

Go back to the forwarding settings in your old account and check the box next to "Forward a copy of incoming mail to [your new address]". Choose whether to keep a copy in your old inbox or delete it after forwarding (keeping a copy is safer while you transition). Click "Save Changes" at the bottom of the page.

From this point forward, every email that arrives at your old address will automatically go to your new one. This means you can tell people your new address, and their replies will reach you even if they send to the old one for a while.

Export emails from your old account

If you want to keep the emails already in your old inbox, you need to export them before you stop using that account. Sign into your old Gmail account. Go to accounts.google.com/takeout (or search "Google Takeout"). Click "Deselect all" to uncheck everything, then scroll down and check only "Mail". Click "Next step".

Choose your file format — "MBOX" is the standard format that Gmail can import. Choose how often you want the export to run (one time is fine), and what size file you want (smaller files are easier to read). Click "Create export". Google will prepare a read link and email it to you, usually within a few minutes. read the file and save it somewhere you can find it.

Sign into your new Gmail account. Go to accounts.google.com/takeout again and repeat the process, but this time you are importing. In your new account, click the gear icon, go to "See all settings", find the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab, and look for an import option. If you do not see one, use a tool like Thunderbird (a free email program) to import the MBOX file, then sync it to your new Gmail account. This step is optional if you do not mind starting fresh with your new address.

Export and import your contacts

Your contacts are stored separately from your emails. Sign into your old Gmail account and go to contacts.google.com. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) on the left side and select "Export". Choose "Google CSV" as the format and click "Export". Save the file to your computer.

Sign into your new Gmail account and go to contacts.google.com. Click the menu icon and select "Import". Choose the CSV file you just downloaded and click "Import". Your contacts will appear in your new account within a few seconds.

Update your recovery information and security settings

Before you stop using your old account, make sure your new account is fully set up with recovery options. Sign into your new Gmail account, go to myaccount.google.com, and click "Security" on the left side. Add a recovery phone number and recovery email if you have not already. This is how Google will contact you if someone tries to access your account or if you forget your password.

Check the "Your devices" section to see what devices are currently signed into your new account. Remove any devices you do not recognize. Review "Your activity" to see if there are any suspicious login attempts. These steps take five minutes and protect you from someone else accessing your new address.

Tell people about your new address and when to stop using the old one

Send an email from your new account to your contacts, telling them your address has changed and asking them to update their records. Include both addresses in the message so they can copy the new one correctly. You can keep the forwarding active on your old account for as long as you want — many people leave it running for six months or a year to catch messages from people who did not see the announcement.

After you feel confident that everyone has your new address, you can stop checking your old account. You do not have to delete it. If you want to delete it, go to myaccount.google.com, click "Delete your account and data" on the left side, and follow the prompts. Google will give you a warning that this is permanent and will delete all emails, contacts, and files in that account.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to emails sent to my old address after I stop using it?

If you keep forwarding active, they will go to your new address. If you delete the old account or turn off forwarding, emails sent to the old address will bounce back to the sender with a message that the address no longer exists. Keeping forwarding on for several months gives people time to update their records.

Can I use both email addresses at the same time?

Yes. You can sign into Gmail and switch between accounts using the profile icon in the top right corner. You can also send emails from either address by clicking "From" in the compose window and selecting which account to send from. This is useful while you transition.

Will my passwords and two-factor authentication transfer to the new account?

No. Your new account is completely separate, so you will need to create a new password and set up two-factor authentication from scratch. Two-factor authentication is a security feature that requires you to enter a code from your phone when you sign in from a new device.

What if someone else already has the email address I want?

Gmail addresses are unique, so if someone else has it, you cannot use it. Try adding numbers, a period, or a middle initial to make it unique. For example, if jane.smith@gmail.com is taken, try jane.m.smith@gmail.com or jane.smith.1985@gmail.com.

Do I need to change my address in other accounts that use my old Gmail?

Yes, eventually. Services like social media, banking, and shopping sites are linked to your old Gmail address. You can update them one at a time by going to each site's account settings and changing the email on file. Start with the most important ones — banking, email recovery, and accounts with payment methods — and work through the rest over time.